For you home

computer users. Looks like the start of an interesting series from the BBC. (This is part one. Tomorrow, they will

look into what happens when they
let the computer get infected with malware. Wed and Thurs will
look at spam

and phising.)



As referenced from Slashdot:

"This article from the BBC shows how vulnerable XP Home really

is.
Using a highly protected XP Pro machine running VMWare, the BBC
hosted an unprotected XP Home system to

simulate what an 'average'
home PC faces when connected to the internet."

From the article: "Seven hours of

attacks: 36 warnings that pop-up
via Windows Messenger. 11 separate visits by Blaster worm. 3
separate attacks

by Slammer worm. 1 attack aimed at Microsoft IIS
Server. 2-3 "port scans" seeking weak spots in Windows software."


The machine was attacked within seconds of being connected to
the Internet, and at no time did more than 15

minutes elapse
between attacks.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/5414502.stm